Garden Sofas

Sofas, corner sofas and lounge sets

A garden sofa on its own suits a sunny wall or a covered porch, and it pairs easily with a chair or two you already own. A corner sofa seats more people in an L shape. A lounge set comes as a group, usually a sofa with armchairs and a low table, so the pieces match from the start.

Which suits you depends on the space and on how many people you expect to sit together on an ordinary evening rather than at a party. A single sofa is also the easiest piece to carry through a side gate or a narrow hallway on its way to the garden.

Corner sofas for wide patios

A corner sofa wraps around the edge of a patio or a deck, so everyone faces inwards towards the table and the conversation. It uses a corner that would otherwise sit empty, and it seats more people in less floor than a separate sofa and chairs. Measure both arms of the L before you order, and leave a clear way in at the open end. Turn the corner so the longer arm faces the evening light, and on a deck let it follow two edges and leave the middle clear.

Lounge sets built around a table

Many lounge sets include a low table in the middle, sized for drinks, plates and a candle rather than a meal. Most of these tables have a glass top that wipes clean quickly. A few corner sets add a table that rises to dining height, so one set serves for both relaxing and eating, and the product page says when that is the case.

Arrange the seats so the table is within easy reach of everyone, with enough room to stand up without climbing over a neighbour. A side table at each end of a sofa helps if the centre table is low or out of reach.

Woven rattan over metal frames

Rattan is a weave you will see on many of these sofas. On many of them it is a synthetic polyrattan wrapped over an aluminium frame, which keeps each piece light enough to move when you rearrange the patio or tidy up at the end of the summer. The weave gives the sofa its texture, and the frame gives it shape. Rattan also softens the outline of a large sofa, so a big piece looks lighter in a small garden than a solid one would.

The Material filter separates polyrattan from the other materials if you want to compare them.

Acacia and mixed materials

A number of sets combine the weave with acacia wood, on the frame, the arms or the table, for a warmer and more natural look. Wood and weave together suit a cottage garden, a stone terrace or a deck made of timber. Wooden arms stay pleasant to the touch on a hot afternoon.

Check the materials on each product page before you buy, because two sets that look alike can be built quite differently.

Arranging outdoor seating

Face the seats towards the view you enjoy most, whether that is the lawn, the borders or the evening sun. Keep a clear path from the house so trays and drinks can be carried out easily. A sofa set against a hedge or a wall feels more enclosed and restful than one standing in the open. An outdoor rug under a lounge set ties the pieces together and makes the area feel like a room of its own. If you entertain often, choose more seats than you need day to day; if not, a two or three-seater sofa with a pair of chairs is often enough.

Natural, beige and grey are the colours you will meet most often here, and the Colour filter shows one shade at a time.

Cushions, covers and care

Seat and back cushions make an outdoor sofa comfortable, and they last longer when they come indoors after use. Brush the weave clean, wipe the frame with a damp cloth, and keep the set under a fitted cover or in a dry shed through the winter. Our outdoor cushions and garden furniture covers are linked below. Scatter cushions in a contrasting colour are a quick way to refresh a sofa's look from one summer to the next.